Abstract :
Introduction: Since the emergence of coronavirus illness in 2019 (COVID-19), there has been discussion on whether pregnant women are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and whether there is any vertical transmission through the placenta.
Methodology: We describe a collection of thirty placentae collected from pregnant women who were tested at our hospital for SARS cov-2 infection by RT-PCR and turned to be positive. They were divided based on clinical symptoms into asymptomatic, mild and moderate groups before giving birth. We performed a thorough histopathological examination of placental tissue, RTPCR of amniotic fluid and placentae, between April 2021 and July 2021.
Results: All were term deliveries (between 37 and 39 gestational weeks). Sixty percent were asymptomatic and 23% had mild symptoms, 17% had moderate symptoms. On histopathologial examination, signs of maternal and/or foetal malperfusion were present in 36.6% of cases, which can be explained by the presence of altered coagulative or microangiopathic state induced by SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusion: Inspite of the fact that most of the neonates born to mothers with COVID 19 positive status, were tested negative for SARS CoV 2 by RTPCR, we observed that COVID 19 in term patients admitted for delivery is associated with increased rates of placental histopathological abnormalities particularly fetal vascular malperfusion and villitis of unknown cause. These findings seem to occur even among asymptomatic term patients.
Keyword :
Severe acute respiratory syndrom, Pregnancy, COVID 19, Placental changes, Vertical transmission